Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) Unlikely to Revise 'Pay-or-Consent' Model Despite EU Pressure and Risk of New Fines

Given the company’s popularity among hedge funds and the bullish sentiment surrounding it, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) makes it to our list of the Top 10 AI Infrastructure Stocks to Buy Now.

Reported on July 11, 2025, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is likely to face new EU antitrust charges and substantial daily fines starting June 27. This comes as a result of the company’s likely refusal to make any further changes or adjustments to its ‘pay-or-consent’ data model. Previously, META was hit with a $234 million penalty by the European Commission, which claimed that the model breached the Digital Markets Act. The company’s shares were down 1.3% following this update on Friday.

Meanwhile, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is racing toward AI development with the hiring of AI researchers from OpenAI and Google. Furthermore, Apple Inc.’s top executive, responsible for AI models, is moving to Meta. Thus, the company’s AI talent acquisition could push META forward in the AI race. These developments come ahead of META’s Q2 2025 earnings on July 30, 2025. Analysts are expecting an EPS of $5.74 per share (+11.2%) for the quarter, with full-year EPS projected at $25.35.

While we acknowledge the potential of META as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

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